Multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) muscle training machine

ABSTRACT

A MDOF muscle training machine is provided in the present invention. The training machine has multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) being able to be set by users to make various cyclic motions with respect to various groups of muscle to be trained. The training machine comprises an adjustable frame and a cyclic motion device. The adjustable frame has MDOF being able to be adjusted with respect to the various cyclic motions. The cyclic motion device is assembled on the adjustable frame. The adjustable frame can be adjusted to decide a specific position of the cyclic motion device with respect to specific groups of muscle. Both arms (legs) of the user are constrained by the cyclic motion device. The user has to coordinate the specific groups of muscle to drive the cyclic motion device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a muscle training machine, and more particularly to a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) muscle training machine.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

It is a common sense to visit a doctor for sickness. However, a great amount of out-patient therapies, especially some rehabilitation recipes, advised by the doctor can depend only on the patient himself/herself. Usually, the rehabilitation recipes relating to a specific muscle need the patient to frequently rehabilitate or train this muscle in order to recovery. For example, office workers usually keep some working positions for office hours. Therefore, some muscle groups may be over-exercised and some may be under-exercised. It may induce tingling at the beginning, but may grow into a deep pain for long-term overlooking. Such an occupational injury cannot be simply cured by medication. Adequate muscle training is generally required for revitalizing the fatigue muscles or muscle groups. In addition, the patient after an operation may also need some adequate muscle training to rehabilitate his/her atrophic muscle groups.

There are various fitness equipments for strengthening muscle groups available in the gym. Users may select an adequate fitness equipment to strengthen specific muscle groups. In addition, some fitness equipments allow the users to vary the loading for efficiently training purposes. However, those fitness equipments are only suitable for the healthy user who wants to enhance his/her muscle strength. For a patient with injury muscles, the basic or minimum loading of any fitness equipment may be too large to be sustained. For a forced try, the patient may even further injure his/her muscles. Therefore, the patient with injury muscles usually has to go to a rehabilitation center to train his/her muscles under the instructions of a qualified person.

In the rehabilitation center, rehabilitation machines are usually task-oriented, such as the isokinetic assessment and training unit, the upper body cycle, the semi-recumbent elliptical, the semi-recumbent cycle, the rehabilitation treadmill, the balance system, the running machine, the traction system, and etc. However, these rehabilitation machines still have some inherent drawbacks as listed below for example. One of the drawbacks is that these machines are too expensive to be afforded for ordinary patients, and so the patient can only use them in hospital or in the rehabilitation center. Another one is that each of the rehabilitation machines has its specific task, and so a professional rehabilitation center has to pay a huge amount of money to purchase various rehabilitation machines for the wide-ranged needs of different patients.

Accordingly, it remains a topic to provide a rehabilitation machine capable of training various muscle groups at home.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a rehabilitation machine, which enables users to train different muscles in multi degrees of freedom (MDOF).

A MDOF muscle training machine is provided in the present invention. The training machine has multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) being able to be set by users to make various cyclic motions with respect to various groups of muscle to be trained. The training machine comprises an adjustable frame and a cyclic motion device. The adjustable frame has MDOF being able to be adjusted with respect to the various cyclic motions. The cyclic motion device is assembled on the adjustable frame. The adjustable frame can be adjusted to decide a specific position of the cyclic motion device with respect to specific groups of muscle. Both arms (legs) of the user are constrained by the cyclic motion device. The user has to coordinate the specific groups of muscle to drive the cyclic motion device.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable frame has a seat. The seat is movable on a plane perpendicular to the ground for adjusting a height or an inclination of the seat with respect to the ground, and for adjusting a distance between the seat and the cyclic motion device.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable frame has a first and a second degrees of freedom between the seat and the cyclic motion device. Wherein, the first degree of freedom is rotation of the cyclic motion device in a first plane perpendicular to the ground and extending from the seat to the cyclic motion device, and the second degree of freedom is translational motion of the cyclic motion device on the first plane.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable frame has a first and a second degrees of freedom between the seat and the cyclic motion device. Wherein, the first degree of freedom is translational motion of the cyclic motion device along a vertical axis perpendicular to the ground, and the second degree of freedom is rotation of the cyclic motion device with respect to a rotational axis on the first plane.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable frame further has a third degree of freedom. The third degree of freedom is rotation of the cyclic motion frame together with the seat in a first plane perpendicular to a ground and extending from the seat to the cyclic motion device.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cyclic motion device has a resistant wheel set and two cranks. The cranks are connected to the opposite sides of the resistant wheel set. The user has to apply torque to drive the resistant wheel set with both arms (legs). In addition, the cyclic motion device can be adjusted to above the user's shoulder.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cyclic motion device has two holders connected to the cranks respectively. The holder has a first portion and a second portion pivotally connected to the first portion for users to adjust an angle between the second portion and a rotational axis of the resistant wheel set to change the specific muscle groups to be trained.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cyclic motion device has two pedals pivotally connected to the cranks respectively. The users may adjust the inclination of the pedal with respect to a ground so as to change the muscle groups of both legs to be trained.

In a preferred embodiment, the MDOF training machine has an upper body cyclic motion device and a lower body cyclic motion device. The upper body cyclic motion device and the lower body cyclic motion device are assembled on the adjustable frame. The upper body motion device and the lower body motion device can work independently.

The MDOF training machine enables the user to select proper training tasks to cyclically train his/her muscles, and is helpful for the ordinary user to train his muscles at home. In addition, the MDOF training machine also enables the patient to adjust his muscle power, enhance the coordination of muscles, and prevent possible muscle adhesion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be specified with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing first preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine in the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the seat of the adjustable frame of the MDOF training machine in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing second preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing third preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing fourth preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the holder of the cyclic motion device in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the pedal of the cyclic motion device in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing fifth preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine in the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic views showing a user operating the MDOF training machine of FIG. 8 to train his muscles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As mentioned in prior art, the training machines available in present have common drawbacks in limited training tasks and higher prices. The training machine with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) provided in the present invention offers the feature of home-use and is capable for users to make various cyclic motions with respect to various groups of muscle to be trained. For a better understanding of the present invention, a detail description of the preferred embodiment is provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a first preferred embodiment of the multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) muscle training machine 1 in the present invention. As shown, the training machine 1 has an adjustable frame 4 and at least one cyclic motion device 5 (one cyclic motion device is shown). The cyclic motion device 5 is assembled on the adjustable frame 4. The adjustable frame 4 has MDOF, which can be adjusted and set by the user to decide a specific position of the cyclic motion device 5. It is noted that as the user starts training his (her) groups of muscles, both arms (legs) are constrained by the cyclic motion device 5. The user has to coordinate specific groups of muscle with respect to the specific position of the cyclic motion device 5 to drive the cyclic motion device 5.

The cyclic motion device 5 has a resistant wheel set 51 and two cranks 52. The cranks 52 are connected to the opposite sides of the resistant wheel set 51. The amount of resisting force applied by the resistant wheel set 51 of the cyclic motion device 5 is adjustable. The user has to apply torque to drive the resistant wheel set 51 with both arms (legs).

In the present embodiment, the adjustable frame 4 has a seat 41. The user is seated to drive the cyclic motion device 5. However, the seat 41 should not be a limitation to the present invention. The user may be stood to train his (her) groups of muscle. The adjustable frame 4 has a first and a second degrees of freedom between the seat 41 and the cyclic motion device 5. The user may adjust the height and the inclination of the cyclic motion device 5 with respect to the seat 41. As shown, the first degree of freedom (indicated by arrow A) is rotation of the cyclic motion device 5 in a first plane, which is perpendicular to the ground and extends from the seat 41 to the cyclic motion device 5. The second degree of freedom (indicated by arrow B) is translational motion of the cyclic motion device 5 on the first plane.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing the structure of a preferred embodiment of the seat 41 of the adjustable frame 4 in the present invention. As shown, the adjustable frame 4 has a four-bar linkage 42 supporting the seat 41. The four-bar linkage 42 has a fixed bar 42 a on the ground, a supporting bar 42 b connected the seat 41, and an adjustable bar 42 c connected therebetween with an adjustable length for adjusting the height or the inclination of the seat 41 with respect to the ground. That is, the four-bar linkage 42 is capable to change relative height of the cyclic motion device 5 with respect to the seat 41 and constrain the seat 41 on the first plane. In addition, the seat 41 is translational movable with respect to supporting bar 42 b for adjusting a distance between the seat 41 and the cyclic motion device 5. For example, as the cyclic motion device 5 is utilized for training lower body, the angle of hipbone would be changed by varying the distance between the seat 41 and the cyclic motion device 5 so as to adjust the ratio of loading toward the muscle groups in the front portion, such as quadriceps femoris, and the rear portion of the legs, such as hamstring muscles. The adjustable inclination of the seat 41 with respect to the ground and the translational motion of the seat 41 with respect to the four-bar linkage 42 may be regarded as a third and a fourth degrees of freedom (indicated by arrows C and D) between the seat 41 and the cyclic motion device 5.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the structure of a second preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine in the present invention. As shown, the adjustable frame 4 has a first and a second degrees of freedom being able to be adjusted between the seat (not shown in this figure) and the cyclic motion device 5. The first degree of freedom (indicated by arrows E) is translational motion of the cyclic motion device 5 along a vertical axis VA perpendicular to the ground. The second degree of freedom (indicated by arrows F) is rotation of the cyclic motion device 5 with respect to a rotational axis RA on the first plane. In the present embodiment, the rotational axis RA is perpendicular to the vertical axis VA.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the structure of a third preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine 1 in the present invention. As shown, the adjustable frame 4 has a grounded portion 43 and a movable portion 44 connected to the grounded portion 43 with a shaft 45. The cyclic motion device 5 and the seat 41 are assembled on the movable portion 44. In contrast with the first and the second embodiments, the adjustable frame 4 in the present embodiment has a third degree of freedom (indicated by arrow G) being able to be adjusted. The third degree of freedom (indicated by arrow G) is rotation of the movable portion 44 together with the cyclic motion device 5 and the seat 41 on the first plane. For example, as the cyclic motion device 5 is utilized for training lower body, the user may rotate the movable portion 44 of the adjustable frame 4 so as to adjust the cyclic motion device 5 to a position higher than the heart of the user to enhance the circulation of the lower body.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the structure of a fourth preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine 1 in the present invention. As shown, the cyclic motion device 5 is utilized for training upper body. The adjustable frame 4 can be set to adjust the cyclic motion device 5 to a position above the user's shoulder with translational motion or rotation (both translational motion and rotation are shown in this figure).

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of a preferred embodiment of the cyclic motion device 5 in the present invention. As shown, the cyclic motion device 5 is an upper body cyclic motion device and has two holders 54 connected to the cranks 52 respectively. The holder 54 has a first portion 54 a and a second portion 54 b. The first portion 54 a is connected to the crank 52 at one end, and pivotally connected to the second portion 54 b at the other end. The user may hold the first portion 54 a or the second portion 54 b according to the need. In the condition that the second portion 54 b is held, the user may change the intersection angle between the first portion 54 a and the second portion 54 b so as to adjust an angle between the second portion 54 b of the holder 54 (the direction is shown by dash-line D1) and a rotational axis D2 of the resistant wheel set (not shown in this figure). Both arms of the user are constrained by the holders 54 and a preferable forcing angle is thus obtained so as to change the specific muscle groups of both arms to be trained.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the structure of another preferred embodiment of the cyclic motion device 5 in the present invention. As shown, the cyclic motion device 5 is a lower body cyclic motion device and has two pedals 56 pivotally connected to the cranks 52 respectively. The pedal 56 is composed of a body 56 a and a shaft 56 b. The shaft 56 a is pivotally connected to the crank 52 at one end. The body 56 b is assembled to the shaft 56 a. That is, the shaft 56 a is rotatable within a predetermined angle range with respect to the rotational axis D2 of the resistant wheel set (not shown in this figure) so as to change the inclination of the body 56 b with respect to the ground. The body 56 a is rotatable with respect to the shaft 56 b. The users may adjust the inclination of the pedal 56 with respect to the ground so as to change the specific muscle groups of both legs to be trained.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the structure of a fifth preferred embodiment of the MDOF training machine 1 in the present invention. FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic views showing a user operating the MDOF training machine 1 of FIG. 8 to train his groups of muscle. As shown, the MDOF training machine 1 has an upper body cyclic motion device 21 and a lower body cyclic motion device 32. The upper body cyclic motion device 21 and the lower body cyclic motion device 32 are assembled on the adjustable frame. The upper body cyclic motion device 21 has two holders 25 and the lower body cyclic motion device 32 has two pedals 34. The upper body cyclic motion device 21 and the lower body cyclic motion device 32 can work independently.

The adjustable frame has a first degree of freedom being rotation of the upper body cyclic motion device 21 on the first plane (or the sagittal plane), which extends from the seat 31 to the upper body cyclic motion device 21. The adjustable frame has a level-adjustable rod 23 for the user to change the height of the upper body cyclic motion device 21 according to the demand of the user. The adjustable frame has a second degree of freedom being rotation of the upper body cyclic motion device 21 with respect to a rotational axis on the first plane, which is aligned with the orientation of the shaft 24. As a preferred embodiment, the upper body cyclic motion device is 360 degrees rotatable with respect to the rotational axis. The target muscle groups to be trained and the ratio of loading toward different muscle groups to be trained can be varied by changing the position of the cyclic motion devices 21 and 32. For example, as the upper body cyclic motion device 21 is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the rotational axis on the first plane, the resistant force provided by the upper body cyclic motion device 21 would be changed from a clockwise direction to a counter-clockwise one, and thus the target muscle groups would be changed from biceps to triceps.

In addition, the adjustable frame has a seat 31 movable on the first plane (including back-and-forth translational motion and up-and-down translational motion). When the user training his/her muscle groups by using the MDOF training machine 1 provided in the present invention, the upper body cyclic motion device 21 and the lower body cyclic motion device 32 can co-operate as a versatile training gear to work on plenty muscles and muscle groups at the same time.

Also referring to FIG. 8, the MDOF training machine 1 of the present invention further has a first positioning pin 27 and a second positioning pin 28. The first positioning pin 27 can penetrate both the shaft 24 and the hole 221 so as to fix the upper body cyclic motion device 21 at any feasible inclination angle to enable the user doing various cyclic motion with respect to different groups of muscle. Similarly, the second positioning pin 28 can penetrate both the rod 23 and the rotational adjusting unit 26 so as to fix the upper body cyclic motion device 21 at a predetermined height. The rotational adjusting unit 26 is composed of a worm gear 261 and a worm 262 meshed with the worm gear 261. By using the worm 262 and the worm gear 261, the orientation of the shaft 24 and the upper body cyclic motion device 21 can be adjusted.

This invention focuses on a MDOF design enabling the user to change the positions of cyclic motion device 5, 21, 32 with respect to the ground and/or the seat 41, 31 on (or respected to) the first plane. However, the structure of the adjustable frame provided in the above mentioned embodiments should not be a limitation of the present invention. For example, the position of the cyclic motion device 5, 21, 32 can be fixed by various fixing designs, such as pin, key, screw joint, and etc. The usage of worm gear 261 and worm 262 is merely an embodiment to provide one degree-of-freedom being rotation of the cyclic motion device, and also should not be a limitation in the present invention. Different mechanical designs enable the user to change the position and the orientation of the cyclic motion device 5, 21, 32, such as hybrid gear, are also suitable for the present invention.

As a preferred embodiment, the resistant wheel set 51 of the cyclic motion device 5 is provided and adjusted by magnetic resistance motor, but on the other hand an adjusting tuner for manually controlling the loading can also be provided. In addition, the embodiments of the cyclic motion device 5 can be varied to meet different users. For example, as the MDOF training machine is operated by healthy users, an ordinary rolling resistant wheel set, which may keep rotating for a while when a stop signal is applied, can be used. However, as the MDOF training machine is operated by a patient with injured muscles, an additional controller assembled to the resisting wheel set should be used to shut down the magnetic force to remove the loading totally when a stop signal is applied to the rolling resistant wheel set. Such design is critical for protecting the injured muscles of the patient from being stretched too much by the rolling resistant wheel set.

In conclusion, the MDOF training machine provided in the present invention enables the user to select proper training tasks to train his/her muscles and do cyclic exercise. In addition, the MDOF training machine provided in the present invention is helpful for the ordinary user to train his muscles at home. Further, the MDOF training machine also enables the patient to adjust his muscle strength, enhance the coordination of muscles, and avoid possible muscle adhesion.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A training machine with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) being able to be set by users to make various cyclic motions with respect to various groups of muscle to be trained comprising: an adjustable frame, with MDOF being able to be adjusted with respect to the various cyclic motions; and a cyclic motion device, assembled on the adjustable frame; wherein the adjustable frame being adjusted to decide a specific position of the cyclic motion device with respect to a specific groups of muscle, both arms or both legs of the users being constrained by the cyclic motion device, and the users having to coordinate the specific groups of muscle to drive the cyclic motion device.
 2. The training machine with MDOF of claim 1, wherein the adjustable frame has a seat.
 3. The training machine with MDOF of claim 2, wherein the seat is movable on a plane perpendicular to a ground for adjusting a height or an inclination of the seat with respect to the ground and a distance between the seat and the cyclic motion device.
 4. The training machine with MDOF of claim 2, wherein the adjustable frame comprises at least a first and a second degrees of freedom between the seat and the cyclic motion device to adjust a height and an inclination of the cyclic motion device with respect to the seat.
 5. The training machine with MDOF of claim 4, wherein the first degree of freedom being rotation of the cyclic motion device in a first plane perpendicular to a ground and extending from the seat to the cyclic motion device, and the second degree of freedom being translational motion of the cyclic motion device on the first plane.
 6. The training machine with MDOF of claim 4, wherein first degree of freedom being translational motion of the cyclic motion device along a vertical axis perpendicular to a ground, and the second degree of freedom being rotation of the cyclic motion device with respect to a rotational axis on the first plane.
 7. The training machine with MDOF of claim 2, wherein the adjustable frame comprises a third degree of freedom being rotation of the cyclic motion frame together with the seat in a first plane perpendicular to a ground and extending from the seat to the cyclic motion device.
 8. The training machine with MDOF of claim 1, wherein the cyclic motion device has a resistant wheel set and two cranks, the two cranks are connected to opposite sides of the resistant wheel set for the user to drive the resistant wheel set with both arms or both legs.
 9. The training machine with MDOF of claim 8, wherein the cyclic motion device can be adjusted to above the user's shoulder.
 10. The training machine with MDOF of claim 9, wherein the cyclic motion device further comprises two holders connected to the cranks respectively, and the holder has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is pivotally connected to the first portion for users to change the specific muscle groups to be trained.
 11. The training machine with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) of claim 9, wherein the cyclic motion device further comprises two pedals connected to the cranks respectively, and the pedal has a body and a shaft, wherein the body is assembled on the shaft and the shaft is pivotally connected to the crank for the users to adjust an inclination of the pedal with respect to a ground.
 12. The training machine with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) of claim 1, wherein an amount of resisting force of the cyclic motion device is adjustable.
 13. The training machine with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) of claim 1, wherein the cyclic motion device is rotatable with respect a rotational axis on a first plane perpendicular to the ground.
 14. The training machine with multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) of claim 1, wherein the cyclic motion device is an upper body cyclic motion device, and further comprises a lower body cyclic motion device. 